Friday, April 2, 2010

War of aggression is the mother of all war crimes. The Nuremberg Tribunal declared: "To initiate a war of aggression . . . is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole."

The UN charter provides only two conditions under which one nation might attack another: 1) With UN Security Council approval; or 2) in response to a direct attack by the other nation.

It’s unlikely that the U.S. will get Security Council approval to attack Iran. And it’s also unlikely that Iran would attack the U.S. If the U.S. does attack Iran then, it will be guilty of a crime against peace: the "planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing...."

“Iran is a country that hasn’t attacked a neighbor in more than 200 years. Even when Saddam Hussein invaded Iran after the 1979 Revolution and, with support from the West, used chemical weapons against both civilians and combatants, the Islamic Republic did not retaliate in kind. And yet the U.S. government claims that Iran represents a serious threat to the Middle East region and the entire world. Without a shred of evidence, the U.S. charges that Iran's program to develop nuclear power for peaceful energy purposes is just a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Never mentioned is the fact that, as a signatory to the U.N.'s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran's right to develop nuclear energy is enshrined in international law. Just a few months ago, the U.N's International Atomic Energy Chief, Mohammed ElBardai, the person responsible for monitoring compliance with that treaty, stated that ‘Nobody is sitting in Iran today developing nuclear weapons. Tehran doesn’t have an ongoing nuclear weapons program. But somehow, everyone in the West is talking about how Iran’s nuclear program is the greatest threat to the world.’ (Interview with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Sept. 2009) Instead, warning of world disaster if Iran should succeed in its imaginary goal of obtaining nuclear arms, Washington argues that Iran must be forcefully brought to its knees, through a combination of increasingly crippling sanctions, taking advantage of Iran's internal divisions and preparing for a possible military attack.”

The appeal ends with these words:

“The political positions taken by anti-war activists in the West can become a real factor in strategic decisions made by the U.S. government and its allies…. We call on all…coalitions, organizations and individual activists to…demand ‘No Outside Interference in Iran's Internal Affairs! Self-determination for the Iranian People!’

“Regardless of differences in our political analyses and views, these demands should be acceptable to all who struggle for peace, justice and a better world for all.”

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War Crimes Times Statement of Purpose (revised 06/2011)

TheWar Crimes Timesprovides compelling, ongoing information on war and the war crimes that invariably accompany war, the many costs of war, the effects of our war culture on our national character and international reputation, and the need to hold accountable those who initiate and conduct illegal wars.Additionally and importantly, we also report on the efforts of the many people who sacrifice their time, money, and comfort to work for peace.

When national leaders initiate hostilities they create the conditions—the extreme use of force coupled with limited accountability—for the war crimes which invariably follow. War crimes are therefore an inherent part of war. The suffering caused and the enmity aroused by war crimes must be regarded as costs of war. Since these and other costs far exceed any benefits of war, we seek to end war as a tool of international policy.

Towards this goal, we believe that holding war criminals accountable will send a strong message to all current and future heads of state to very carefully weigh all the consequences of the decision to go to war. While we recognize that United States has long relied on unlawful military force to further its foreign policy goals, we are particularly concerned with the blatant and egregious violations of international law committed by the United States beginning with the Administration of George W. Bush and now continued and expanded under President Obama.

We endorse any efforts, including impeachment, which would bring war criminals of any administration to justice. The War Crimes Times has resolved to see that Bush, Cheney, Obama, and other government officials and military officers who have committed war crimes are prosecuted—no matter how long it takes.

There is no statute of limitations on war crimes.

WCT Print issue archives

The War Crimes Times no longer produces a print edition. But you can browse six years of back issues by clicking HERE for the PDFs. See the front pages and brief synopses below.

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Fall 2014

THE CHRITMAS TRUCE OF 1914. Giving peace a chance. If left to their own devices, young men would prefer to sing, converse, and play sports with other young men—even strangers, even foreigners—than to kill them. War is not a grass roots phenomenon. It is imposed from above, from “the ones who call the shots [who] won’t be among the dead and lame,” in John McCutheon’s words. In these pages, we explore the Christmas Truce of 1914, the Peace Movement’s past and possible future, humanity in warriors, uselessness of war; and on page 20, we have a last laugh.

Summer 2014 (click image)

MYTH AMERICA. The people have been sold a bill of goods (yes, “goods” as in America, the good-doer). Troublesome realities of U.S. imperialism and subjugation are twisted into fairy tales of benevolence and humanitarianism. We reject the truth; we won’t accept that our nation—and by complicity, we ourselves—does harm. The fables bring comfort; we deny any challenge to them. We explore this topic: the venerated myths about WWII (“the Good War”), the myth that spawned the “Forgotten War” (Korea), the Vietnam War Commemoration history revision, the U.S.-NATO-Russia continuing saga, and the mutually exclusive tradeoff quandary begotten of the myth of nuclear deterrence.

Spring 2014 (click image)

In this issue: For the United States of America, every problem is a military problem—the Ukraine is simply the latest example. By “absolving the people from meaningful involvement” (Bacevich, p.6) through elimination of the military draft, reliance on elite “special ops” forces (Turse, p.1), drones (pp.10-11), and a subservient press, the military mentality has won the ideological battle (Hedges, p.1). But would it make a difference to the American people if they knew that since World War II, our military-minded foreign policy was responsible for the equivalent of three to five Holocausts (Lucas, p.1) and other violations of international law (Rosal, p.12; Ford, p.18)? Would knowledge of blatant hypocrisy (Gamage, p.16) or budget tradeoffs (Gagnon, p.14) help restore sanity? We can only hope so and keep trying to inform the people of the true costs of war and militarism.

Winter 2014 (click image)

In this issue: The theme is addressed in these pages from many different perspectives by Brian Willson, Mike Ferner, William Blum, Tom Engelhardt, and others. Also: We devote a page to Quaker House whose activists have been working for peace and GI rights since 1969; Pepe Escobar explains the motivation behind U.S. Afghanistan policy; David Krieger reviews Zero; Marjorie Cohn reports on the recent “Drone Summit” and homeland-security-degree.org provides some drone graphics; Mike Hastie offers a photo and free verse report from his recent trip abroad; and U.S. and UK veterans honor Armistice and Remembrance Day.

Fall 2013 (click image)

In this issue, we define the national security state, describe its origins, and explain how militarism has pervaded our culture and institutions. Included are articles by Howard Machtinger (how the state is attempting rewrite the history of our Vietnam experience), Chris Hedges (how the state stifles dissent), John Pilger (naming the enemy that Pogo told us about), and Kathie Malley-Morrison and Ross Caputi (Moral Disengagement: America’s Missing Conscience). Veterans Brandon Toy and Mark Runge share about how they have dealt with invisible wounds of war. And Sharon Doubiago writes about how the corruption of the mother-son relationship in our militaristic society perpetuates a culture of war.

Summer 2013 (click image)

In this issue: America’s Rain of Terror -- Showers of cluster bomblets, rain of Hellfire missiles, hail of bullets. Delivered from a distance, often remotely controlled, often targeting heavily populated areas. Impersonal. Indiscriminate. Technology has distanced the destroyer from the destruction. Munitions fall from the sky —“steel rain” —and are now directed from space. Collateral damage, destruction incidental to the intended target, is routine. The 4th Geneva Convention in 1949 specified that the killing of civilians and wilfully causing great suffering is a war crime. If Americans knew that the overwhelming majority of today’s war casualties are non-combatants—often children—would they care? Or do we have less compassion for "other" children? For those who do have compassion, how to respond? Work with the children of war-torn countries? Memorialize victims? Learn the past to inform the present? Speak out? Make amends? Blow whistles? The WCT explores these topics with articles, images, and poetry.

Spring 2013 (click image)

In this issue: World War — World Warm. Nations on every continent are participants—as instigators, aggressors, defenders, suppliers, profiteers, coalition partners, or victims—in ongoing wars. This endless warfare contributes to global warming; it also distracts us from addressing that very problem. On these pages, our contributors explore and deplore wars past, present, and future—in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Latin America, and Africa—and they describe the adverse effects on climate of an unbridled military machine. We’re grateful to the journalists, activists, and veterans who contributed to this spring edition. We hope this issue engages you, enrages you, and inspires you to action. Homeplanet security is at stake.Weather of Mass Destruction is imminent.

Winter 2013 (click image)

In this issue: Challenging the Pulpits and the Pundits: War is good – and necessary, just, moral, legal, honorable, holy, productive, and natural. This message is preached from pulpits and promulgated by pundits: pray for the troops (but not the innocent victims of war and certainly not the “enemy”); support the troops (but do not question the arguments that support the American institution of perpetual war). In these pages, we present some clear and critical thinkers who challenge the myths and the misconceptions propagated by the institutions of the Church and the media: Alan Storey, conscientious objector and ordained minister, issues a bold – and quite unsettling for some – challenge (p.5) to clergy and congregants, reminding them what religious fundamentals really are supposed to be. Robert Higgs (p.1) takes on the spurious arguments offered by the military-industrial-congressional complex and their media lackeys to justify war. And Marti Hiken (p.2) comments on another hallowed institution: “blind, unwarranted patriotism.” With war thus discredited, John Dear (p.1) writes of young Afghan peacemakers who espouse nonviolence and seek friends around the world; the Blue Scarf Movement (p.20) offers a highly visual symbol of global solidarity; and Carlos Steward and Hamid Dabashi (p.10) promote a better understanding of Iranian culture. Back in the trenches, John Glaser (p.1) and Hilary Stauffer and Reprive.org (p.19) report on drones; Ann Wright (p.13), Vince Stravino (p.15), and Luke Hiken (p.15) provide updates and analysis on Israel and Palestine; Brian Willson (p.9) explains that the war isn’t just “over there”; Ed Tick shares poetry; and Robert Yoder offers a letter and a book review.

Fall 2012 (click image)

In this issue: War Crimes Unnoticed Most folks think of war crimes as misdeeds explicitly codified in international law and perpetrated in the course of violent conflict. But crimes – illegal, immoral, or shameful acts and their consequences – associated with any aspect of war can also be regarded as war crimes. Isn’t it a crime to corrupt our youth? Yet, as Ann Pelo and David Swanson relate, we’re not just killing and torturing children in war and recruiting them as warriors, but military leaders are working to insure that childhood education is military readiness training. Once the youth become soldiers, they often suffer the traumatic stress and moral injury that Nan Levinson describes. These injured soldiers are then frequently denied proper treatment, Michael Prysner writes, and persecuted into suicide. Aren’t these crimes, too? (CLICK page one image above)

Summer 2012 (click image)

In this issue, we explore how elements of fundamental evangelical Christianity have been a major force in promoting an American culture of war: Chuck Fager, in his review of "Christianity and War"; Marc Mullinax in an essay; Ross Caputi on anti-Muslim attitudes in the military; Willard Hunter reviews "No Snowflake in an Avalanche"; John Scales Avery urges us to consider the wisdom of Tolstoy, Gandhi, and King; and Mark Twain leads us in prayer. Also in this issue: Mike Wong on the fate of military refuseniks; Joe Glenton on refusing a second tour to Afghanistan; Margaret Kimberley on the ICC; Eunice Au on the prosecution of George W. Bush; Robert Yoder on Obama; Adam Berner on "Apocaplypse Now"; Evan Knappenberger on alternatives to military service; Terry J. Allen, Dave McCoy, and Willard Hunter on military environmental toxins; Kevin Baker on “Green on Blue” killings; Bill Quigley on drone assassinations; Fredy Champagne on the “peace boat”; and more.

Spring 2012 (click image)

The spring issue features articles on Iran, Syria, U.S. imperialism, the madness of nuclear deterrence theory, the anatomy of a NATO war crime, forced military testing in schools, Obama’s terror drones, why the fighters in Afghanistan are motivated, and more, including song lyrics from Mark Twain and photos and an article about the War Crimes Times in Viet Nam. Authors include Matt Southworth, John Pilger, Pat Elder, Robert Yoder, Ed Tick, Ralph Nader, Felicity Arbuthnot, and Franklin Lamb. Also letters, poetry, and more...

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WCT on Wall St.

Torture Memos

Reining in the Imperial Presidency

Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush. House Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff Final Report to Chairman John Conyers, Jr. Read the 541-page report (or at least the 7-page Forward and 8-page Executive Summary).

For More information

Demanding Justice in Portland, OR

See a nine-minute video of one of the weekly street demonstrations (which includes a plug for The War Crimes Times).

What a Resource!

Please take a minute (or more likely an hour) to check out Andy Worthington's Guantánamo: The Definitive Prisoner List. This impressive resource contains links to hundreds of articles and is organized with an alphabetical listing of names and topics (e.g. Conditions at Guantanamo, David Addington, David Hicks, Dick Cheney, Diego Garcia, East African prisoners, Egyptians in Guantanamo, Extraordinary rendition and secret prisons, FBI/CIA, and so on...) as well as all the Gitmo prisoners listed by ISN (Internment Serial Number).

Banner Says It All

Would Truth Commssion Be Just a War Crimes Whitewash?

Corporate Media & War Crimes by Linda LeTendre

There's a bumper sticker that's been around for a long time that reads, “When the people lead, the leaders will follow.” I saw evidence of that possibility this past weekend at the Veterans For Peace (VFP) action on Saturday the 17th at the Newseum, the museum of the the corporate media in Washington, DC.

More than 30 activists gathered at the Newseum to launch the inaugural edition of “The War Crimes Times”, a newspaper that does what our “liberal” media has failed to do -- and that is to give the American public the information it needs to hold the Bush Administration accountable for their actions and policies in the Iraq War.... See full article